Mailbox device

ABSTRACT

A mailbox configured to allow visual inspection of the contents thereof prior to opening the mailbox device. The mailbox device can include one or more see-through portions and/or components thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a mailbox device.Specifically, the present invention is directed to a mailbox deviceconfigured to allow a user to inspect the interior or contents of themailbox prior to opening thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There exists a wide variety of mail boxes that are currentlymanufactured and sold. Most of these mailboxes are configured to mountor be supported on top of a post anchored in the ground. The currentmailboxes are typically made of metal or plastic material.

[0003] The current mailboxes have a front door that flips downwardly toinsert or retrieve mail. Currently, these mailboxes are made ofmaterials that are opaque, and do not allow a user to look inside themailbox or inspect the contents thereof prior to opening the door.Further, whether the mail has been delivered or the mailbox has beentampered with cannot be discerned until the current mailboxes are openedand a user looks inside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmailbox.

[0005] A second object of the present invention is to provide a mailboxconfigured to allow a user to visually inspect the contents or interiorof the mailbox prior to opening.

[0006] A third object of the present invention is to provide a mailboxdevice provided with a window in at least one of a door portion orcontainer portion of the mailbox device.

[0007] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a mailboxdevice according to the present invention having a see-through portionor window.

[0008] A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a mailboxhaving at least one portion or component made of a see-through material.

[0009] A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a mailboxdevice having a door portion made of a see-through material connected toa container portion.

[0010] A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a mailboxdevice having a container portion and door portion both made ofsee-through material.

[0011] The present invention is directed to a mailbox device configuredto allow a user to inspect the inside of the mailbox prior to openingthereof. For example, a person can see whether or not mail has beendelivered by visual inspection, even from a distance, and/or canvisually inspect the contents of the mailbox prior to opening themailbox. This feature is important with respect to safety and securityof a person opening a tampered mailbox containing a prank, dangerousmaterial (e.g. explosive, cutting device, gun) or otherwisebooby-trapped by someone else.

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide asee-through door portion of the mailbox. For example, the door portioncan be provided with a window cut through or molded in the door portion.The window can be opened or covered with a see-through material, such asa plastic sheet or a molded window. In another preferred embodiment, aportion of the door portion or the entire door portion is made of asee-through plastic material (e.g. made by injection molding). Inanother preferred embodiment, one or more portions of the containerportion of the mailbox is made of see-through material to provide asee-through window or the entire container portion is made ofsee-through material to allow visual inspection from all sides. In afurther preferred embodiment, the front door and the rear panel of thecontainer portion are both made of see-through plastic material so thatyou can see through both the front and the back of the mailbox so thatthere exists adequate natural light to view the inside thereof.Optionally, the mailbox can be provided with one or more interior lightsources to illuminate or partially illuminate the interior of themailbox to enhance visual inspection thereof prior to opening. Forexample, a solar powered device mounted on the mailbox or post of themailbox in combination with a battery pack powers one or more lightsmounted within the mailbox device.

[0013] The present invention is directed to new construction ofmailboxes, and/or alterations to existing mailboxes. For example, aconventional opaque door can be replaced with a see-through plastic doorinstalled by removing the existing rivets or fasteners and swapping outthe opaque door with the see-through door. In other versions, anexisting mailbox can be drilled with a hole saw and plastic insertwindows can be glued or snap fit into the openings to allow visualinspection of the interior thereof.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the entire mailbox ismade of a see-through plastic material such as plastic. For example, theplastic material can be clear or not clear but translucent to allowvisualization of the shape and sizes of the contents of the mailbox. Forexample, a clear plastic mailbox can be lightly frosted (e.g. by shotpenning or sandblasting) to allow some visual access to the interior ofthe mailbox prior to opening while adding some texture and/or color tovisually enhance the look of the mailbox. Alternatively, paint or someother finish product can be sputtered onto a clear mailbox again to addtexture and/or color to visually enhance the mailbox. Even further, theclear mailbox can be slightly tinted to allow visual inspection of thecontents thereof while also adding aesthetic beauty. In a preferredembodiment, the mailbox is tinted so that you cannot see into themailbox until a light switch is turned to on illuminate the interior ofthe mailbox then allowing a user to visually inspect the mailbox priorto opening thereof. In another embodiment, a liquid crystal type coatingor layer is incorporated or applied to the plastic material that can beelectrically activated to act as a light shutter to selectively view ormake opaque the plastic material to allow visual inspection in one modeand preventing visual inspection in another mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mailbox according to the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of anotherembodiment of the mailbox according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a further embodiment of themailbox according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the mailboxaccording to the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the mailboxaccording to the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional of a sixthembodiment of the mailbox according to the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a perspective of a seventh embodiment of the mailboxaccording to the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a replaceable door portionfor a plastic type mailbox.

[0023]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a replacement type doorportion for a metal type mailbox.

[0024]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a replacement door portionshown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] An embodiment of the mailbox device 10 according to the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The mailbox 10 includes a container portion 12 and a door portion14. The door portion 14 is pivotally connected to the container portion12 by a set of fasteners or rivets 16. The door portion 14 is providedwith a latch portion 18 a cooperating with a latch portion 18 bconnected to the container portion 12.

[0027] The container portion 12 is made of sheet metal or plastic sheetmaterial or plastic injection molded material. The container portion 12can be configured or made to be see-through, partially see-through oropaque. For example, the container portion 12 is made of tinted plasticsee-through material (e.g. acrylic) or can be partially see-through(e.g. made of partially or fully clarified polyethylene orpolypropylene). The door portion 14 is preferably made of a clear andcolorless plastic material (e.g. formed from a sheet or injectionmolded), so as to allow good visual inspection of the interior of themailbox device 10. The mailbox device 10 is shown mounted on top of apost 20 set in the ground G.

[0028] Another embodiment of the mailbox device 100 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 2.

[0029] In this embodiment both the front door portion 114 and rearportion 115 of the container portion 112 are configured to besee-through. For example, the front door portion 114 and rear portion115 are made of clear see-through plastic material formed from a sheetor injection molded.

[0030] A third embodiment of the mailbox device 200 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] In this embodiment, the door portion 214 is provided with athrough opening 222 to define a window, and a window pane 224 is fittedwithin the window 222. The window pane 224 can be provided with grillworks 226 to provide visual enhancement and potentially reinforcement tothe window pane 224. The window pane 224 can be made of glass or plasticclear see-through material.

[0032] A fourth embodiment of the mailbox device 300 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 4.

[0033] The mailbox 300 is provided with a plurality of separate roundwindows 324. Specifically one window 324 is provided in the door portion314 and two sets of windows 324 are provided on each side of thecontainer portion 312 (two windows are not shown). The round windows 324configured to be adhered and/or snap fit into round through holes madethrough the door portion 314 and container portion 312. The windows 324can be applied to existing mailboxes by cutting round through holes witha hole saw, and then installing the windows 324 in the through holes.

[0034] A fifth embodiment of the mailbox device 400 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 5.

[0035] The mailbox device 400 is provided with a door portion 414 havinga round top window 424 as shown, and the container portion 412 isprovided with a pair of side bow windows 426 and a pair of skylights 428to allow light to enter the mailbox device 400 from above. Thisconfiguration provides a “greenhouse” type lighting effect so that auser can visually inspect the contents of the mailbox 400 from all sideswith good visibility and light.

[0036] A sixth embodiment of the mailbox device 500 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 6.

[0037] The mailbox device 500 includes a see-through door portion 514and a see-through rear panel 515 of the container portion 512. A solarpanel 530 is mounted on the post 520 by a mounting bracket 532. Anon/off switch 534 is provided on the post 520. Alternatively, the on/offswitch 534 can be mounted on the container portion 512 or door portion514 of the mailbox device 500.

[0038] A set of three (3) separate incandescent or fluorescent lamps 536are mounted on the roof or ceiling of the container portion 512. Thesolar panel 530 is electrically connected to the switch 534, which inturn is connected by wires 538 to the lamps 536. A battery backup unit540 is wired to the solar panel 530 to allow charging thereof during thedaylight hours.

[0039] A seventh embodiment of the mailbox device 600 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 7.

[0040] The mailbox device 600 includes a container portion 612 havingside windows 642 (one on both sides) and an upper window or skylight644. The door portion 614 is provided with a window 646. The windows642, 644 and 646 make up almost the entire outer surfaces of the mailboxdevice 600 to provide excellent visual inspection of the contents of themailbox 600 from all sides and angles. The mailbox device 600 can beprovided with bottom windows, again to further increase the visualinspection of the contents thereof.

[0041] A replacement door portion 714 for a plastic mailbox is shown inFIG. 8. The plastic door portion 714 is provided with a plastic window724 and a pair of lugs 725 for pivotal connection with the existingcontainer portion.

[0042] A replacement door portion 814 for a metal type mailbox is shownin FIGS. 9 and 10. The door portion 184 is provided with a window 824and a flange 827 for inserting into the opening of the metal mailboxonce the metal door has been removed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mail box device, comprising: a mail boxcontainer including at least a portion configured to be see through toallow a user to view inside said mail box prior to opening thereof.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein said mail box includes a containerportion and a door portion configured to allow access into saidcontainer portion.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein at least aportion of said door portion is configured to be see through.
 4. Adevice according to claim 3, wherein said door portion is provided witha see through window.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein saidwindow is defined by a through opening in said door portion.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein said window is defined by a see throughmaterial provided in a through opening in said door portion.
 7. A deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein said entire door is made of a see throughmaterial.
 8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said entire door ismade of a see through plastic material.
 9. A device according to claim2, wherein at least a portion of said container portion is configured tobe see through.
 10. A device according to claim 3, wherein saidcontainer portion is provided with a see through window.
 11. A deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein said window is defined by a throughopening in said container portion.
 12. A device according to claim 10,wherein said window is defined by a see through material provided in athrough opening in said container portion.
 13. A device according toclaim 9, wherein said entire container portion is made of a see throughmaterial.
 14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said entirecontainer portion is made of a see through plastic material.
 15. Adevice according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of saidcontainer portion and a portion of said door portion are configured tobe see through.
 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein saidcontainer portion and said door portion are both provided with a seethrough window.
 17. A device according to claim 16, wherein said windowis defined by through openings in said container portion and said doorportion.
 18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said window isdefined by a see through material provided in through openings in saidcontainer portion and said door portion.
 19. A device according to claim15, wherein said entire container portion and said door portion are madeof a see through material.
 20. A device according to claim 19, whereinsaid entire container portion and said door portion are made of a seethrough plastic material.
 21. A device according to claim 6, whereinsaid window is provide with grill works.
 22. A device according to claim1, including a support connectable to said mail box container, saidsupport configured to be anchored in the ground for supporting said mailbox container.
 23. A device according to claim 22, wherein said supportis a post.